One lucky arts student from Swindon College School of Art has opened his first professional exhibition of his career at the Marlborough offices of Semaphore, the region’s leading advertising, branding and design agency.
Chris Rowland, a student of contemporary illustration, was told he had won the chance to exhibit his work at the Semaphore offices after his work was selected at the School of Art’s end of year show in June.
The exhibition was launched at Semaphore on 11 August to invited guests which included Councillor Peggy Dow, Mayor of Marlborough and Nikki Collier, programme area manager for Art and Design at Swindon College. The exhibition will run for two weeks.
“It is an amazing feeling to see your work displayed all on its own in a professional exhibition for the first time,” said Chris. “It’s a real honour. I’m not quite sure what my next step will be but I have had some very positive feedback. My parents have come up from Dorsetto see my work and I don’t think they can believe it either.”
Chris said that he had always been into art and was hooked when he came across a book called “Pen and Mouse” which was full of contemporary illustrations and graphic design. “It totally blew my socks off and I knew that illustration would be my career path from then on. I have now completed my degree at Swindon College School of Art and have moved back to Dorset to save some money to start my own business as a freelance artist.”
Nick Clements, managing partner of Semaphore, announced that this would be the first of four exhibitions to be staged at Semaphore during 2008/2009. The company has also awarded a placement to graphic design student Alexus Charlwood as part of the same initiative.
“We are hoping that by staging these exhibitions and providing the placements we will be giving the students their first real commercial platform,” said Nick Clements. “We want to encourage excellence and foster new talent locally.”
Greg Rendell, team leader for design, said: “We are delighted that an agency of Semaphore’s calibre is partnering the Swindon College School of Art. Their substantial experience in working with major clients on innovative advertising, branding and design, together with their understanding of the directions that the creative industries are taking, will be of immense value to our students.”
